JP2008263320A - Imaging device and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress a decrease in precision of image processing on an image obtained by photography when the image processing is carried out. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging device has an imaging unit (102) which photographs a subject and outputs an electric image signal, a detecting means (120, 121) of detecting a predetermined object from the image signal, a determining means (112) of determining photographic conditions to be used for photography using the detection result of the predetermined object, a signal processing circuit (104) which performs image processing on an image signal obtained through photography of the imaging unit under the determined photographic conditions using the detection result of the predetermined object obtained by the detecting means, and a control means of controlling the timing of detection of the predetermined object for use of the detection result of the predetermined object by the image processing circuit to behind the timing of detection of the predetermined object for use of the detection result of the predetermined object by the determining means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and a control method thereof, and more particularly to an imaging apparatus that performs face detection and performs processing using the detection result and a control method thereof.

  In recent years, some digital cameras perform face detection at the time of shooting, and perform optimal settings for shooting and image processing according to the size and brightness of the detected face.

  For example, as a digital camera using a face detection result, Patent Document 1 discloses a camera that detects a human face and adjusts the focus and exposure to the detected face area.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228561 discloses a technique for extracting the color of the face area and correcting the hue of the skin color area.

  Patent Document 3 discloses that when a face is detected, a white balance (WB) correction value is acquired in an area other than the face area, so that the color of the face area is erroneously determined as “white”. Techniques for preventing and improving white balance performance are disclosed.

  As described above, conventionally, the face detection function is used to perform automatic exposure control processing (AE) and flash light control so that the exposure of the face area is appropriate, or to focus on the face area. An automatic focus adjustment process (AF) has been proposed. Furthermore, it is possible to obtain a more preferable image by adjusting white balance and color reproduction so that the color of the face region becomes a desired color.

  As a face detection method, for example, a method using learning typified by a neutral network or a method of extracting a part having a physical shape such as an eye or nose from an image region by template matching is known. . In addition, there is a method of detecting an image feature amount such as a skin color or an eye shape and analyzing it using a statistical method (see, for example, Patent Documents 4 and 5). Also, what is currently proposed as a product includes a method of detecting a face using wavelet transform and image feature amounts, a method of combining template matching, and the like. Many other face detection methods have been proposed.

  Here, an example of the face detection method will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10A shows a target image for face detection.

  In step S501, a skin color region is extracted from the face detection target image. FIG. 11 is a chromaticity diagram showing representative colors in the CIELAB La * b * color space. In the figure, an ellipse 200 indicates a region that is highly likely to be a skin color (hereinafter referred to as a “skin color region”). ing. FIG. 10B is a diagram showing an image region having a pixel value in the skin color region 200 extracted from the face detection target image shown in FIG. In step S502, a high-pass filter is applied to the extracted image. FIG. 12 is a coefficient showing an example of a two-dimensional high-pass filter, and FIG. 10C is an image showing a concept obtained by performing high-pass filter processing on the extracted image of FIG. 10B.

  In step S503, template matching is performed to detect eyes in the image. In step S504, face recognition is performed based on the positional relationship between the detected eye regions, and feature quantities such as direction and size are extracted. FIG. 10D is a diagram showing a case where a face detection frame is displayed as a result of face detection performed as described above.

  By using the face detection result obtained in this way for AF, AE, WB, etc., when photographing a person, AF, AE, WB, etc. more suitable for the face can be performed.

  When the face detection result is used for AF in the shooting operation, it is only necessary to roughly determine the face area. This is because if the face area is included in the area to be detected, the lens can be controlled so that the contrast value of the area is maximized, and there is no problem with the accuracy of AF. Therefore, face detection for performing AF control does not require that the area to be face-detected be specified precisely.

  Similarly, in AE, if a rough face area is determined when calculating the exposure value, it is possible to optimally control the exposure by combining the exposure values in the area including the face area. .

  On the other hand, a method of using the face detection result in white balance calculation is, for example, a method of calculating white balance using an area other than the face area (Patent Document 3), and detecting a face area positively. There is a technique (Patent Document 2) that optimizes the facial color of a region.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-8668 JP 2004-180114 A JP 2003-189325 A JP-A-10-232934 JP 2000-48184 A

  However, in the WB that uses the face detection result, the WB accuracy is adversely affected unless the area where the face is to be detected is strictly specified.

  For example, in the method of calculating the white balance using an area other than the face area, if the skin color of the face is mistakenly included in the part determined to be other than the face area, the skin color part is set to white. An erroneous determination may occur, and a correct WB evaluation value may not be obtained.

  In addition, for example, in a method for optimizing the face color of the face area, if the area other than the face is mistakenly determined as the face area, and colors other than the skin color (for example, background lawn or blue sky) are mixed, it is correct. The face color is not evaluated and appropriate WB cannot be performed.

  That is, the accuracy of the face detection area required for AE and AF differs from the accuracy of the face detection area required for WB.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an imaging apparatus according to the present invention has an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject and outputs an electrical image signal, and an image signal output from the imaging unit. Detection means for detecting a target of the image, determination means for determining an imaging condition used for imaging using the detection result of the predetermined object by the detection means, and the imaging using the imaging condition determined by the determination means An image processing means for performing image processing on the image signal obtained by photographing with the means using the detection result of the predetermined object by the detecting means, and the image processing means for detecting the predetermined object The timing of detection of the predetermined target for using the predetermined object is controlled to be later than the timing of detection of the predetermined target for the determination means to use the detection result of the predetermined target. And a control means.

A method for controlling an image pickup apparatus having an image pickup unit that takes an image of a subject and outputs an electrical image signal, the image pickup step for taking an image by the image pickup unit, and a predetermined target from the image signal output from the image pickup unit A detection step of detecting the predetermined object, a determination step of determining a shooting condition to be used for shooting using the detection result of the predetermined object by the detection step, and a shooting condition determined by the determination step by the imaging means An image processing process for performing image processing on the image signal obtained by photographing using the detection result of the predetermined object in the detection process, and using the detection result of the predetermined object in the image processing process The detection timing of the predetermined target for the determination is to be later than the detection timing of the predetermined target for using the detection result of the predetermined target in the determining step. And a control step of.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when performing image processing on the image obtained by image | photographing, it becomes possible to suppress that the precision of image processing falls.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus as an example of an apparatus having a circuit for performing face detection.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a lens barrel including a focus lens, a zoom lens, a diaphragm, and the like. Reference numeral 102 denotes an image sensor that converts a subject optical image into an electrical image signal by photoelectric conversion, represented by a mechanical shutter, a CCD, a CMOS sensor, or the like, and an analog image signal output from the image sensor. An imaging unit including an A / D converter that converts the image signal. A system controller 112 controls the entire imaging apparatus.

  Reference numeral 111 denotes a user interface for an operator to input various operation instructions to the system controller 112. The user interface 111 includes a single switch or a combination of a plurality of switches, dials, touch panels, pointing by eye-gaze detection, voice recognition devices, and the like. The The user interface 111 includes a shutter button, and SW1 is turned on by a first stroke (for example, half-press) of the shutter button, and automatic focus adjustment (AF) processing, automatic exposure control (AE) processing, flash pre-flash (EF) processing, and the like. Is started. Further, after SW1 is turned on, SW2 is turned on by a second stroke (for example, full press) of the shutter button, and an instruction to start a series of main photographing including exposure processing, development processing, and recording processing is given.

  When shooting is instructed by the user via the shutter button included in the user interface 111, the system controller 112 controls the lens position and the aperture of the lens barrel 101. Further, the mechanical shutter and the image sensor of the image capturing unit 102 and the light emitting unit 105 are controlled when performing flash photographing, and photographing is performed. When shooting is performed, an image signal is output from the imaging unit 102 and temporarily stored in the buffer memory 103. Thereafter, signal processing (image processing) for image generation is performed by the signal processing circuit 104 to generate YUV image data, which is stored in the buffer memory 103 again. The signal processing circuit 104 also performs white balance (WB) correction as one of signal processing (image processing).

  The YUV image data generated as described above is read from the buffer memory 103, sent to the compression / decompression circuit 106, and is compressed into, for example, a JPEG file. Then, the data is recorded on the recording medium 108 by the recording / reading circuit 107.

  Further, the YUV image data stored in the buffer memory 103 is converted into an analog signal by a D / A converter (not shown) and displayed on a display 109 such as an LCD. An electronic viewfinder (EVF) function can be realized by sequentially displaying the image data picked up by the image pickup unit 102 at a predetermined cycle and temporarily stored in the buffer memory 103 on the display device 109.

  When performing face detection, the face detection area determination unit 122 determines whether the operation state of the imaging apparatus is the EVF operation, the SW1 is on, or the SW2 is turned on by the system controller 112. Or receive information. The face detection area is determined by judging the face detection accuracy and the face detection target area, and outputs the face detection area to the image resizing processing unit 120. The YUV image data stored in the buffer memory 103 is resized by the image resizing processing unit 120 in accordance with a size that allows the face position detecting unit 121 to detect the face. In the present embodiment, resizing is performed to the QVGA size, and face detection is performed by the face position detection unit 121.

  When a face area is detected by the face position detection unit 121, the coordinate position and size of the detected face area image, and further the eye position and eye size are calculated, and the coordinate value is output. Reference numeral 123 denotes a face detection setting determination unit that determines face detection parameters. The face detection parameters include, for example, a hue / luminance range when detecting a skin color region, a size range when performing pattern matching of feature points such as eyes, and a shape similarity threshold. Other examples include threshold values such as the positional relationship and distance between feature points such as eyes, mouth, and nose, and image resolution used for switching the reference pattern.

  Of the above-described configurations, the face position detection unit 121 is an example of a detection unit, and is a configuration when a human face is a detection target. Further, the face detection area determination unit 122 and the face detection setting determination unit 123 constitute a control unit together with the system controller. The image resizing processing unit 120 constitutes a part of detection means for resizing the YVF image data for face detection based on the control of the face detection area determination unit 122.

<First Embodiment>
Next, the process of the first embodiment in the imaging apparatus having the above configuration will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing face detection processing during EVF operation in the first embodiment. The EVF operation is performed when the imaging mode is set by the user interface 111 and the EVF operation is set to be performed.

  An image for EVF (hereinafter referred to as an EVF image) is generally an image of a size that can be displayed on the display 109 provided in the imaging apparatus, and is an image of QVGA size (320 × 240 pixels) here.

  During the EVF operation, in step S101, it is determined whether the operator of the imaging apparatus has performed a transition to another mode such as a playback mode or an ON operation (first operation) of SW1. When the SW1 ON operation or switching to another mode is detected, if the SW1 ON operation is detected, the process proceeds to the processing of FIG. 3 described later. If the switching is to another mode, the mode switched in step S107 is performed. The face detection process during the EVF operation is terminated. On the other hand, if the determination in step S101 is NO, the process proceeds to step S102, and an EVF image (EVF image) acquired from the imaging unit 102 and accumulated in the buffer memory 103 is acquired.

  In step S103, the EVF face detection area (first area) is acquired from the face detection area determination unit 122, and the face detection parameter is acquired from the face detection setting determination unit 123. In step S104, the face position detection unit 121 is acquired. Face detection using. Here, the size of the face detection area is set to the same QVGA size as that of the EVF image, thereby eliminating the need for resizing processing. Needless to say, resizing processing is required when the sizes are different.

  In step S104, face detection processing is performed on the image signal corresponding to the face detection region using the face detection parameter. If no face is detected (NO in step S105), the process returns to step S101 and the above-described processing is repeated. If a face is detected (YES in step S105), in step S106, the system controller 112 is notified of the face detection result including information such as the detected face position, size, and pixel value, and then in step S101. Return to. The system controller 112 updates the face detection result every time a new face detection result is notified. Note that the face detection process does not have to be performed on all periodically acquired EVF images. For example, the face detection process is performed at a preset time interval or newly performed every time the process up to step S105 ends. You may make it perform with respect to the acquired EVF image.

  When face detection is performed with the size of the EVF image (for example, QVGA size), since the resolution is low, the speed of the face detection process can be increased, but the accuracy is lowered.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a photographing sequence when SW1 is turned on in the first embodiment. 3 is executed when SW2 is turned on via SW1 or SW1, and when SW1 is turned off, the EVF operation shown in FIG. 2 is resumed.

  After SW1 is turned on, an image is acquired with a higher resolution than during EVF operation, so that face detection is performed based on a higher definition image than during EVF operation. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the image after SW1 is turned on is acquired in the VGA size (640 × 480 pixels).

  When SW1 is turned on, it is determined in step S201 whether a face is detected during the EVF operation. If it has been detected, AF is focused on the face area stored in the system controller 112 in step S202. For example, the focus lens position at which the contrast of only the face area is maximized is detected while operating the focus lens. Further, in step S203, an AE operation is focused on the detected face area to determine exposure.

  If no face is detected, a general AF operation is performed in step S204, for example, an operation for detecting the focus lens position where the contrast value is highest in the entire image while operating the focus lens. In step S205, a normal AE operation (for example, an AE operation based on center-weighted evaluation metering) is performed.

  FIG. 4A shows an example of a metering area (shown by a thick frame) at the time of center-weighted evaluation metering and the weight used in the AE calculation at that time, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the weight used by AE calculation in that).

  In step S206, a face detection area (second area) and parameters to be subjected to face detection are determined from the face detection result that was previously performed during the EVF operation or after SW1 is turned on. In step S207, face detection processing is performed on the image signal corresponding to the face detection area using the determined parameters.

  As described above, in this embodiment, face detection is performed in the QVGA size. Here, since the image size after SW1 is turned on is the VGA size, the image resizing processing unit 120 performs resizing processing and trimming (extraction) processing on the acquired image, and inputs the result to the face position detecting unit 121. At that time, instead of reducing the resolution of the SW1 ON image to the 320 × 240 image as it is, trimming is performed based on the previously detected face position information to detect the face at a more detailed position. To.

  Similarly, the face detection parameters can be set in accordance with the trimming position, the resizing process, and the image input resolution, so that more accurate face detection can be performed. In the first embodiment, face detection with double resolution is possible, and the positional accuracy of face detection is expected to be improved by about twice. For example, in the case of a face detection method for searching for eyes, the accuracy can be improved by detecting the similarity by making the size of the template twice.

  The face detection result in step S207 is notified to the system controller 112, and the system controller 112 updates the face detection result every time a new face detection result is notified. Thus, by updating the face detection result, the latest face detection result can be used for the next face detection processing even after SW1 is turned on. As a result, the face area can be detected more accurately even when the ON time of SW1 is long or when the angle of view is greatly changed when SW1 is ON.

  In step S208, it is determined whether or not SW2 has been turned ON (second operation) by the operator of the imaging apparatus. If it is OFF, the process returns to step S206. When SW2 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S209 to perform actual shooting of a still image. After the actual photographing, in step S210, the latest face detection result is used to calculate a white balance coefficient that optimizes the color of the face area if the face area is detected. The white balance coefficient calculation method in step S210 will be described later in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S211, signal processing is performed using the white balance coefficient calculated in step S210 and other image processing parameters, the image processed in step S212 is recorded, and the process returns to step S101 in FIG.

  As the white balance processing performed in step S211, a white balance correction method described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 11-262029 and 2003-333616 can be used using a face region. Of course, the white balance correction method is not limited to these, and other known methods may be used.

  Next, an example of white balance coefficient calculation processing performed in step S207 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S301, a white balance coefficient (hereinafter, referred to as “normal WB coefficient”) is calculated from the image obtained by the main photographing in step S209 using a normal method that does not use a face area. For this method, for example, the method described in JP-A-11-262029 can be used, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In step S302, it is determined whether a face is detected from the face detection result stored in the system controller 112. If no face is detected, the normal WB coefficient calculated in step S301 is output in step S308. The process is terminated. On the other hand, if a face has been detected, the color evaluation value is obtained by obtaining the average value of the image signals in the face detection area in step S303. In step S304, the color evaluation value obtained in step S303 is multiplied by the normal WB coefficient to calculate the color evaluation value of the face area after multiplication by the WB coefficient (hereinafter referred to as “skin color evaluation value”).

  In step S305, the skin color evaluation value output in step S304 is compared with a reference skin color area acquired in advance. The reference skin color region can be obtained by acquiring the skin color distribution in various races and light sources in advance and performing statistical processing.

  In step S306, the correction amount of the normal WB coefficient is calculated based on the comparison result in step S305, and the corrected WB coefficient is calculated in step S307 based on the obtained correction amount.

  Hereinafter, a method of calculating the white balance coefficient of the face area will be described in detail with mathematical expressions and specific examples.

  When the image pickup device of the image pickup unit 102 is covered with the color filters of the Bayer array shown in FIG. 6, values corresponding to the colors of the color filters output from the pixels of the image pickup device are R, G1, G2, and B. To do. At this time, the average value from the face area corresponding to the color of the color filter is Rave, G1ave, G2ave, and Bave, and the normal WB coefficient of each color is WBR, WBG1, WBG2, and WBB.

  Further, assuming that the skin color evaluation value obtained by multiplying the normal WB coefficient obtained in step S301 by the color evaluation value of the face area acquired in step S303 is (Dx, Dy) (step S304), it is expressed as follows. be able to.

First, G1 ′, R ′, B ′, and G2 ′ are set to G1 ′ = G1ave × WBG1
R '= Rave x WBR
B '= Bave x WBB
G2 '= G2ave x WBG2

Then, Dx and Dy are Dx = (R′−B ′) / Y
Dy = (R′−B′−2G ′) / Y
Y = (R ′ + G1 ′ + G2 ′ + B ′) / 4
It becomes.
By obtaining skin color evaluation values (Dx, Dy) for various races and light sources in advance, obtaining a skin color distribution, and performing statistical processing, a reference skin color region can be obtained.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a region boundary between a reference skin color region and other regions. In FIG. 7, TH_SK1 to TH_SK4 are region boundary values of the reference skin color region.
TH_SK1 is the lower boundary value of the reference skin color area,
TH_SK2 is the upper boundary value of the reference skin color area,
TH_SK3 is the upper boundary value of the reference skin color area,
TH_SK4 is the lower boundary value of the standard skin color area

It is. When the calculated skin color evaluation values Dx and Dy are at the positions shown in FIG. 7, the comparison result with the reference skin color region can be expressed as follows (step S305).
ΔDx = Dx−TH_SK1
ΔDy = Dy−TH_SK4
That is, the values of ΔDx and ΔDy are correction values from the face color area to be corrected (step S306). Of course, when the skin color evaluation value is within the reference skin color region, no correction is performed.

The WB coefficient can be expressed as two values as evaluation values of the WB coefficient itself as shown in the following equation.
R_s = (1024 / WBR) x 1024
G1_s = (1024 / WBG1) x 1024
G2_s = (1024 / WBG2) x 1024
B_s = (1024 / WBB0 x 1024

Then,
Cx = {(R_s − B_s) / Y1} × 1024
Cy = {(R_s + B_s−G1_s−G2_s) / Y1} × 1024
However, Y1 = (R_s + G1_s + G2_s + B_s) / 4
Next, evaluation values Cx ′ and Cy ′ corresponding to the newly calculated WB coefficient are calculated as follows from the values of ΔDx and ΔDy calculated as described above.
Cx ′ = Cx + ΔDx
Cy '= Cy + ΔDy

From the corrected WB coefficient evaluation values Cx ′ and Cy ′, WB coefficients (WBR_f, WBG1_f, WBG2_f, and WBB_f) for WB correction of the face area can be calculated as follows (step S307). .
A = (1024 − Cy '/ 4) / 1024
B = (1024 + Cx '/ 2 + Cy / 4) / 1024
C = (1024 − Cx '/ 2 + Cy / 4) / 1024
D = (1024 − Cy '/ 4) / 1024
Y2 = (A + B + C + D) / 4

age,
G1_c = Y2 × 1024 / A
R_c = Y2 × 1024 / B
B_c = Y2 × 1024 / C
G2_c = Y2 × 1024 / D
Y3_c = (G1 + R + B + G2) / 4
Then,
WBR_f = 1024 × R_c / Y3
WBG1_f = 1024 × G1_c / Y3
WBG2_f = 1024 × G2_c / Y3
WBB_f = 1024 × B_c / Y3
By doing so, the WB coefficient for WB correction of the face area can be obtained.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, processing for determining shooting conditions such as AF processing and AE processing and WB processing for an image obtained by main shooting are performed separately at different timings. Do. Thus, face detection can be performed with accuracy and speed suitable for each processing.

  In the first embodiment, it has been described that both the AF process and the AE process are performed as imaging conditions. However, it is not always necessary to perform both. Further, the process using the face processing result with high detection accuracy is not limited to the WB process, and it goes without saying that the process may be used for other processes such as a process for specifying an individual.

<Second Embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the case where face detection is not performed during main photographing in the processing after turning on SW1 shown in FIG. 3 has been described. However, face detection may also be performed during main photographing.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing in the case where face detection is performed even during actual photographing in the second embodiment. In the process shown in FIG. 8, the same step numbers are assigned to the same processes as in FIG.

  The difference from the processing shown in FIG. 3 is that face detection is performed even after SW2 is turned on. Also in this case, similarly to when SW1 is turned on, in step S221, based on the latest face detection result stored in the system controller 112, the face area trimming and resizing processing position and the face detection parameter are changed. In step S222, face detection processing is performed on the trimmed face area using the changed parameter or the like in the image obtained by the main photographing. By doing in this way, it becomes possible to perform face detection with higher definition.

  In particular, since the image obtained by the actual photographing is higher in definition than the image obtained at the time of EVF or when SW1 is turned on, the face area for performing face detection is specified to some extent. It is very effective in increasing

  Note that when face detection is performed on an image obtained by actual shooting, the processing in steps S206 and S207 may be omitted.

  In the first and second embodiments, the case where a face area is detected has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to a face, and may be configured to detect a predetermined target.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments, the case where the EVF operation is performed in the imaging mode has been described. However, when the EVF operation is not performed and an optical finder (not shown) is used, After SW1 is turned on, the following processing may be performed. That is, in the process of FIG. 3 or FIG. 8, after SW1 is turned on, first, an image having the same resolution as that in the EVF operation is taken, and face detection is performed in the same manner as in the EVF operation. If a face is detected, the process proceeds to step S202, and if not detected, the process proceeds to step S204. In this way, the present invention can be applied even when an optical finder is used.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the face detection procedure at the time of EVF operation | movement in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the imaging | photography procedure including the face detection after ON of SW1 in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the difference of AE operation | movement in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the calculation process of the white balance coefficient in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the arrangement | sequence of the color filter in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the calculation method of the white balance coefficient used for the face area | region in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the imaging | photography procedure including the face detection after ON of SW1 in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the conventional face detection method. It is a figure explaining the conventional face recognition method. It is a typical chromaticity diagram in the CIELab color space. It is a figure which shows the example of the high pass filter used by the conventional face detection.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Lens tube 102 Image pick-up part 103 Buffer memory 104 Signal processing circuit 105 Light emission part 106 Compression / decompression circuit 107 Recording / reading circuit 108 Recording medium 109 Display 111 User interface 112 System controller 120 Image resizing process hand part 121 Face position detection part 122 Face detection area determination unit 123 Face detection setting determination unit

Claims (12)

Imaging means for photographing a subject and outputting an electrical image signal;
Detecting means for detecting a predetermined target from the image signal output from the imaging means;
A determination unit that determines a shooting condition to be used for shooting using the detection result of the predetermined object by the detection unit;
Image processing means for performing image processing on the image signal obtained by photographing with the imaging means using the photographing condition determined by the determining means, using the detection result of the predetermined target by the detecting means. When,
The detection timing of the predetermined object for the image processing means to use the detection result of the predetermined object, and the detection timing of the predetermined object for the determination means to use the detection result of the predetermined object. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to perform control later.   The control means detects the predetermined object using the image signal having a lower resolution when the detection result of the predetermined object is used by the determining means than when the detection result is used by the image processing means. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is controlled.   When the detection result of the predetermined object is used by the image processing means, the control means detects the predetermined object using the image signal having a higher resolution than when the determination means uses the detection result. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is controlled. When the detection result of the predetermined object is used in the image processing means, the control means uses the detection result of the most recent predetermined object, and the detection means performs a detection process among the image signals. Extract the image signal of the detection target area,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects an image signal of the extracted detection target region.   The control means, when using the detection result of the predetermined object in the image processing means, sets a detection parameter that has higher detection accuracy than that used in the determination means in the detection means. Item 5. The imaging device according to any one of Items 1 to 4.   The determining unit determines a shooting condition to be used for shooting using a detection result of the predetermined object in response to a first operation by an operator, and the image processing unit is configured to perform the operation after the first operation. In response to the second operation by the operator, the second operation from the first operation to the image signal obtained by the imaging unit using the imaging condition determined by the determination unit. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein image processing is performed using a detection result of the predetermined target obtained by the detection unit during the period.   The determining unit determines a shooting condition to be used for shooting using a detection result of the predetermined object in response to a first operation by an operator, and the image processing unit is configured to perform the operation after the first operation. The image signal obtained after the second operation with respect to the image signal obtained by the imaging unit using the imaging condition determined by the determination unit according to the second operation by the operator. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein image processing is performed using a detection result of the predetermined object by a detection unit.   The determining means uses a detection result obtained by detecting the predetermined target from an image signal corresponding to the first area of the imaging means, and the image processing means is an image signal corresponding to the first area of the imaging means. Based on a detection result obtained by detecting the predetermined object from the image, the detection result obtained by detecting the predetermined object from an image signal corresponding to a second area smaller than the first area of the imaging unit is used. The imaging device according to claim 1.   9. The process according to claim 1, wherein the process for determining the photographing condition includes at least one of a focus adjustment process and an exposure control process, and the image process includes white balance correction. Imaging device.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined target is a human face. A method for controlling an imaging apparatus having imaging means for photographing a subject and outputting an electrical image signal,
An imaging step of performing imaging by the imaging means;
A detection step of detecting a predetermined target from the image signal output from the imaging means;
A determination step of determining a shooting condition to be used for shooting, using the detection result of the predetermined object by the detection step;
An image processing step of performing image processing on the image signal obtained by photographing with the imaging means using the photographing condition determined in the determination step, using the detection result of the predetermined target in the detection step. When,
The detection timing of the predetermined object for using the detection result of the predetermined object in the image processing step is based on the detection timing of the predetermined object for using the detection result of the predetermined object in the determination step. And a control step of controlling the image pickup apparatus to come later.   12. The method of controlling an imaging apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the process for determining the photographing condition includes at least one of a focus adjustment process and an exposure control process, and the image process includes white balance correction.

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